Judge rejects gag order in SDG&E noose case

A Superior Court judge refused on Friday to block a lawyer suing San Diego Gas & Electric Co. from sharing details of the case with reporters in advance of the trial.

Judge Jeffrey Barton rejected the utility’s argument that attorney Daniel Gilleon could taint the jury pool by publicizing testimony taken in depositions earlier this year. Depositions in the case have been featured by the U-T Watchdog team and 10News.

“The court has reviewed the reporter’s articles and the court cannot conclude that at this time a jury could not exercise its own judgment or was severely prejudiced by the pretrial publicity,” Barton ruled.

Barton said he would grant extra leeway to attorneys during the jury-selection process to make sure the integrity of the trial is upheld.

SDG&E issued a statement saying it would not try the case in the media. “We look forward to sharing our story with the jury when the case begins in January,” the statement said.

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Bilal Abdullah, who is black, claims SDG&E tolerated a racially charged workplace. He said racist drawings were posted inside a common work area; a noose was tied to the back of his work truck; and colleagues used the N-word while on the job.

The company says Abdullah was fired after committing safety violations, and notes its award-winning record on diversity issues.

Earlier this year Gilleon released portions of taped depositions of SDG&E employees, including a diversity executive who testified that a noose is not necessarily a racial symbol.